Pleniglacial palaeoenvironmental conditions in the northern Lake northern Neusiedl region

The study presents analyses of sediments and molluscs, as well as luminescence ages, of an alluvial loess sequence exposed north of Lake Neusiedl in the easternmost part of Austria. Situated on the southern slope of the Leitha Mountains in northern Burgenland, this site, with mollusc-rich sediments, represents one of the very few loess outcrops in this area. Sedimentological analyses document an alluvial redeposition of the very few loess outcrops in this area. Sedimentological analyses document an alluvial redeposition of the original aeolian sediment, indicated by small pebbles and slope parallel bedding characteristic for wet palaeoenvironmental conditions during redeposition. In addition, the unique, species-poor thanatocoenosis conditions during redeposition. In addition, the unique, species-poor thanatocoenosis indicates a very humid and cool period and points to an increase in temperature and a decrease in humidity. Luminescence ages of 24.4±1.9 ka and 23.1±1.4 ka correspond to the first half of the Last Glacial Maximum and reflect the time when the loess sediment was redeposited.